Volume 7 Number 8 Moon of the Wild Onion August 15, 1977
Council Rescinds Dock Fishing . St. Ignatius
Cross Deputizes
Recently, the cross - deputiza-tion of three Tribal Policemen was authorized in St. Ignatius. The three Tribal Officers are Charles Morigeau, John Plouffe and Rex Winebrenner.
This new policy already in effect, gives authority for the officers to operate as deputy, policemen and act in behalf of regular city police.
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The controversial section 8, which would have required all private dock-owners to allow Tribal Members to fish from their docks, has been removed from the Tribes' Shoreline Protection Ordinance 64A. This was done on recommendation of the Economic Development Comm'ttee. It was felt that public reaction to this was so strong that the small gain was not worth the risk involved.
It was feared opposition to the section could damage the Namen Case which is now before the courts.
The Council had earlier created a seven man board to carry out Shoreline
Protection. The Board makes allowance for representation of non-members. Flathead Lakers, The Poison City Council, and the Lake County Commissioners would each appoint one representative to the Board. The other members would be appointed by the Council.
Lake County Commissioners are still planning to carry out the State Shoreline Protection Act. The Tribes have received no response on its efforts to create a Board and probably will not until court decisions say the Tribes have jurisdiction.
Council
A combination of drought and agricultural needs has pronounced a death sentence on fish in Flathead Irrigation Project's Camas Division reservoirs. "All usable storage is expected to be exhausted —by August 15," according to Project Engineer George Moon. He adds,"lt is expected natural flows will not support fish life." Moon says, "Little Bitterroot Lake usable storage has been exhausted. Hubbart Dam and the Dry Fork Reservoirs near August 15." The comments were made in a letter to Larry Peterson, Biologist for the U.S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife in Kalispell. Peterson oversees
Protests Fish
stocking of reservation reservoirs with fish.
Peterson can make specific recommendations for fish survival and the Tribal Council can suggest those recommendations with official resolutions. However, Moon is under no obligation to follow those recommendations, and Peterson says they have been ignored in the past.
Moon issued a news release which stated that "Runoff for the month of July was only 57% of that recorded in the drought year of I973. He also said that the Pablo Division, which can be served by the Flathead Pumps, will receive an increased allocation. The release said "This will give these lands a
Killing
total season delivery of 0.9 an acre foot per acre. These areas include Pablo below the reservoir, Valley View, Round Butte and West Poison Sub-Divisions."
There has been discussion of a possible rescue operation by Wildlife Enforcement Officers to transplant the fish.
At press time, Project Engineer, George Moon, had turned down direct request from the Council to retain enough water to keep fish alive. It was questioned whether there was enough time for a rescue operation. Protest was being made to the Billings Area office and whatever other channels may be necessary.